Almost all of Stephen King's works have been adapted to the big or small screen with various results. Some are absolute classics such as Carrie and Misery, while others fail to capture the magic of their source material. One of King's most beloved books is IT, and there have been multiple adaptations of this novel. The 2017 and 2019 versions of It were huge blockbusters that broke some horror movie box office records.
However, this famous work was already adapted into a 1990 miniseries starring Tim Curry as the villain Pennywise. Some parts may be outdated for today's audiences, but here are scenes that still hold up and scare fans.
Henry Attacks Mike
Henry Bowers, the protagonists' chief enemy outside of the shapeshifting monster, attacks Mike in his hotel room and stabs him. Mike is able to kill Henry, but it is a pretty intense scene compared to others in the miniseries.
It is one of the few times where a scary scene does not include Pennywise the Clown, and it just may have one of the miniseries' only jump scares as Henry comes up from behind Mike.
The Opening Scene
This scene is relatively short, but it is a great way to start a scary movie that does not rely on gore and violence to make the audience feel uneasy. A little girl rides her tricycle back home while singing "Itsy Bitsy Spider" where she sees Pennywise through sheets blowing in the wind on a clothesline.
It is the audience's first time seeing the clown as well, and it is terrifying how he goes from saying "Hi" while smiling to dropping the smile as he starts to get hungry. It is terrifying, but brief, and it is a fantastic way to begin this adaptation.
Fortune Cookies
The Losers Club finally reunites after being away from each other for 30 years, and they have dinner at a Chinese restaurant. After they have their meal and begin talking about how little they remember about their traumatic experiences as children, they begin opening their fortune cookies. Instead of a piece of paper with a fortune written inside, each cookie contains some gross object or living thing.
For example, one contains blood, one has an eyeball, and one may or may not contain some sort of arachnid. After a pleasant scene involving childhood friends, this part is a clever way to remind the audience that they are still watching a scary movie.
Eddie's Shower
Eddie takes a shower alone at school where the the bathroom seems to have a mind of its own. The water starts getting super hot and all the showerheads beginning coming after Eddie.
After he gets away, Pennywise comes out from the drain and taunts Eddie as it shows off its sharp teeth. The feeling of isolation is evident as Eddie struggles to get out of this big room, and Tim Curry once again shows that he can give wise-cracking jokes but still be terrifying at the same time.
Tea Time
Beverly visits her old house after she returns to Derry and is greeted by a friendly old woman who calls herself Mrs. Kersh. She stays over for tea, and when she discovers the tea is actually blood and drops it, the old lady turns into her dead father.
It turns out to be Pennywise in disguise. This is a well-crafted scene, and Annette O'Toole gives a brilliant performance showcasing Beverly's vulnerability and trauma over seeing her father.
Richie's Werewolf Encounter
After Richie makes a mess in the school cafeteria, he goes down to the school boiler room to find the janitor and get a mop. Instead, he sees a werewolf similar to one from a movie he and the rest of the Losers Club were watching earlier. The werewolf grabs him, and after Richie runs away, he looks back and sees that the werewolf has transformed into Pennywise the Clown.
This is a very creepy scene, and it goes to show how powerful Pennywise is as he shapeshifts into things people are afraid of.
Beverly's Sink
Beverly is terrified when voices of Pennywise's victims are heard through the drain in her sink. She is even more scared when a balloon emerges through the drain, and when it pops, she is splashed with blood.
She screams and tries to get help from her dad, but she realizes soon after how this monstrous being works. Her father cannot see the bloody mess because he is an adult who does not believe the way a child would. It is a terrifying scene, and it is the bloodiest moment in the entire miniseries.
The Moving Photograph
After Mike Hanlon joins the Losers Club, they all begin looking through his photo album to look at old pictures showcasing the curse and horrific events that have happened in their town. They stumble upon a picture of Pennywise in a village filled with other clowns. The picture comes to life and Pennywise taunts the protagonists about killing them and how afraid they should be.
Pennywise reaches his hand out, and it pops out of the photo album before the protagonists quickly close it. It is a terrifying scene, and Pennywise's short monologue shows how ruthless it is. It is the first time the Losers Club sees the creature together, and it is a great scene that leads to the Losers Club's determination to kill it.
Confrontation In The Sewers
In one of the best moments of the whole miniseries, the Losers Club, as kids, battle Pennywise in the sewers. Pennywise tries to distract them and scare them into giving up, but the kids are willing to stick together no matter how terrifying Pennywise is.
All the kids give fantastic performances, and, as always, Tim Curry plays the ultimate horror movie villain, making this scene memorable and still worth seeing today.
Georgie's Demise
This scene will perhaps always be remembered as the best scene in this whole adaptation of King's novel. When young boy Georgie loses his boat made out of newspaper as it goes into the sewer, Pennywise emerges and talks to the boy. Pennywise acts all friendly and sweet, and when Georgie tries to take the boat from Pennywise's hand, the killer clown grabs Georgie's arm and the audience sees the monstrous creature's sharp teeth before the scene cuts away.
It is a terrifying, suspenseful moment, and this scene alone is the reason why Tim Curry's performance is still acclaimed today.